The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1887-11-25

| You are gladly welcome to II, father
! l wonder I did not think OF it before"
So the dainty bauble lay in the farm
| er's horny palm, and while Essie cleared
| the tca-table John Trowbridge went
| once more to the village.
| Dr. Reynolds, the only physician
| there, Harry's fast friend for wears, WAS
| in his Office when the farmer entered.
''There 1t is :" said the visitor triumph
| antlv. You are sure it is worth the
/ money!"
Perfectly sure. And lIrs. Trow-
| bridge wishes me to invest the sum OBJ
| tain in piano?'
"Bless you, no. that's my part of 1t.
| You see, the poor little soul tries to 90
| her best, but she amt fit for her hard
| life. If there was any other home for
| her I'd send her away, though I'd rather
| miss the sunlight. she's as dainty rs a
| butterfly, and yet she has no fine lady
ways either But she bankers for a
| piana, and she shall have one, Ernest"
and the old mans eyes filed, "her own
father gave her that Cimcrtck, and I've
seen her kiss it often, but VIII n | asked
her To give ii TO me, because | needed
money, she put II in my hand with
kiss, and told me | was gladly welcome.
Shes a good girl, If she amt much OF .
! hand at work"
''She is not very strong" and Ernest
Reynolds stitled n sigh he spoke.
| Then, with a quick change of voice, ..he
added: Il am going to the city to-mor-
row. | will sell the cross and buy the
piano"
But when the farmer was gone Ernest
Reynolds took strange liberties with tho
jewel he held in charge. lie slipped
ribbon through its ring and hung It over
his own heart More than once he
touched his lips to the hard, gGttering
stones, whispering:
"E.SSic, little Essie,"
The next day he had it valued by n
jeweler, and bought piano with the sum
named; but the cross rested still upon
his heart as the bill of the swect-toned
instrument was paid.
1t would be 4 vain task TO describe Es-
sie's pleasure when the piano was brought
to the sitting room. She cried and
smiled NJ the same time, and her earnest
thanks brought moisture To the old farm-
er's eyes.
lie knew nothing OF the wonderful
power prIsOncd in the slender fingers,
SCARED with rough work. He had no
true appreciation of the genius of that
tender young soul. But he did know
that Essie could sway him as she willed
10y the sounds she drew from the Won
drous keys; could bring tears to his ewes
VI NAALl4GH bl IllS JS NOGll III MN 10
alteration by her stirring hymns, or carry
his heart to the loot of the cross by the
pleading power OF her voice in praycrful
song.
She knew soon and well that her desire
was no pain To the kind, old man, but
that while it was rest and Joy to her, it
was comforter TO him.
But the pressure Of poverty was com
ing closer and closer upon the farm. Acre
after acre was sold to meet actual daily
needs, and the wolf drew very close to
the door OF John Trow bri ,ge's house
With stern pride he hid his wants from
his neiGhbors, but Essie knew OF priva-
tlons and seli-denials that wrun; her own
tender heart.
Like a burst of sunlight there came to
her two offers. One 10 he orgauist AZ the
village church, one to take a class of music
scholars in the seminary, five mics from
the village. Twice a week a carriage
would be sent for her, and the salaries
would be more than double the income
from the farm. Neither J ohm Trowbrid.e
nor Essie knew that Or. Reynolds, by
quiet, unsupported influence had brought
about this happy result No one knew
that he had driven the principal OF the
seminary over on an evening when Essio
was pouring out her soul in music, and
held him spel!-bOund for two hours on
the farm house porch.
But they did not know that a strong
armed Irish girl could be paid 10 do the
work OF the house out of Essie income,
and that a trustworthy man was found TO
take the farIn-work on shares.
John Trowbridge began to realize that
there were women OF some value IN the
world who possessed but a small share of
bone and muscle for actual hard work.
EFhT oil
L, the market town, seven miles
away, to the farmhouse. Concsrts wero
given for charitable purposes, and Essie
was engaged at goOdly sums 10 play
Strangers came TO the village church TO
hear the wondrous voice and playing OF
the young organist.
And while the comforts OF the farm
were multiplied by Es5ie's generous ex-
penditure, while the rooms gradually lost
there bare, dismal look, by additions Of
furniture and ornaments, while flowers
blossomed on barren spaces, and the farm
itself was more fully stocked, E-ssia was
ever the same.
The same in respectful love fer Harry's
father, the same gentle shy woman,
modest as a violet Yet not the same as
the months sped by, and the sorrow of
wldowhood lost something OF its keeness
pain.
JOilu IEO"DrlISG wondered little.
when the piano had filled its recess for
whole year, why Ernest Reynolds WIS so
much Interested in the old man = rheuIn-
atism. He had always been an attentive
physician, and had never neglected. tho
father OF his dear friend, Harry Trow-
bridge. But Of late he fingered long
whenever he called, and often dropped
IN, unproiessionslly.
Essie learned to know his step. and her
shy eyes would brighten when She heard
1t. Harry had told her OF many noble
traits IN the doctors character and in tha
village she had heard of his gentle char
tiles, his conscientious discharge of evprv
duty, his Christian influence where pain
and the shadow of death crossed his
daily path.
Very shyly distrustftll of herself, she
did not dream OF winning the love OF this
hero Of her husbands Dovho,d, this
generous friend of the afflicted this
honored member of a noble profession.
She had given her first lova. trus and
warm, 70 Harry But the daisies had
5lossomed twice over Harry's grave, and
the gentle heart WAS touched by other
influence. June roses were blooming.
and Harry had been dead for two wears
when enc evening Essie sat at her piano.
with her hngers calling forth a melody
.uil of sweetness. Ii was neither glai
nor sad, and not so loud but John Trow-
bridge, in the porch, could hear the voice
II DR. Reynolds, as that gentleman spoke
IN deep heartfelt tones.
When he had heard all the old man
said:
go to Essie, Ernest, and tel her the
one wish Of my heart will be granted If
when die, l leave her in the happiness
OF such love IS you bring 10 her. Ii has
been NV great sorrow that ber short
life tied her TO an old hnsn who
was so poor r. companion for her / be-
lieve Harry himself would bid you God
CnaaI -